Flying Air Canada - Velocity points and lounge access?

[Maz11]

Wanting to book an Air Canada flights do I need to (or should I ) join their program to get my Velocity points & lounge access. One way Vancouver to Sydney ? Any Help new to booking International and dont want to muck it up

 

[Mwenenzi]

Wanting to book an Air Canada flights do I need to (or should I ) join their program to get my Velocity points & lounge access. One way Vancouver to Sydney ? Any Help new to booking International and don't want to muck it up

Just put your Velocity freq flyer number on the AC reservation. Will earn VA ff points, if an eligible fare booking class.
If you have VA status will get benefit as per the AC VA agreement. If flying business class lounge access will be based on class of travel.

Joining the AC ffp will just complicate things.

 

[Maz11]

Just put your Velocity freq flyer number on the AC reservation. Will earn VA ff points, if an eligible fare booking class.
If you have VA status will get benefit as per the AC VA agreement. If flying business class lounge access will be based on class of travel.

Joining the AC ffp will just complicate things.

Thanks, although I didnt wait long enough for your reply (was a good price and direct flight) and jumped in and joined up and booked the flight, i did see the drop down box and added my virgin velocity number on the reservation for myself and husband so hope that means the points will be directed there.
I am Gold Velocity but ticket does not show access to Air Canada lounge. Any idea if I show my Gold Card at Vancouver will they let me in the lounge or does it need a phone call.

 

[bullerdude]

You should be fine if the system are working, but lots of historical reports of airline reps not recognising velocity cards as Virgin Australia and subsequently denying access to lounges, unfortunately. The Air Canada lounges page doesn't list Virgin as allowed access, so that can't be used as a backup. Lastly, the Virgin site has the following in really tiny text... meaning only Business tickets get access departing Australia.

• Velocity Frequent Flyer Platinum and Gold members - no lounge is available when flying an Air Canada operated flight operating from Sydney or Brisbane

Amex Plat / Priority Pass etc. comes in really handy hear as a backup.

 

[michaele]

What happened to the improved reciprocal benefits on AC with VA status? It was talked about a year ago by an AC rep.. anyone seen anything lately?
Lounge is a plus, but seats/bag would be more useful given the state of AC..

FWIW I’ve had no issues accessing MLL throughout Canada with my velocity platinum membership card, at worst a few questions.

Also, as mentioned above don’t bother signing up for aeroplan

 

[bullerdude]

The ongoing downside of VA’s scattered airline partners with inconsistent benefits

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thanks, although I didnt wait long enough for your reply (was a good price and direct flight) and jumped in and joined up and booked the flight, i did see the drop down box and added my virgin velocity number on the reservation for myself and husband so hope that means the points will be directed there.
I am Gold Velocity but ticket does not show access to Air Canada lounge. Any idea if I show my Gold Card at Vancouver will they let me in the lounge or does it need a phone call.

Booking a ticket while logged in to a ffp (AC) may mean in the background the flight is tagged to AC ffp, even though you added the VA ff number. For the "other person" adding his VA ffn will likely stick, as no possible conflict.
Would look at AC manage my booking to check both the VA ff numbers are in the reservation. Take screen shots that show all the details, including VA ffn

For airlines (not just VA) are occurrences of ff miles/points being credited to the wrong ffp. Can even happen when the correct ffn is printed on the boarding pass. Keep boarding pass's until after credited to ffp.

Software for freq flyer programs is not that robust.

 

[Jusrus]

What happened to the improved reciprocal benefits on AC with VA status? It was talked about a year ago by an AC rep.. anyone seen anything lately?
Lounge is a plus, but seats/bag would be more useful given the state of AC..

FWIW I’ve had no issues accessing MLL throughout Canada with my velocity platinum membership card, at worst a few questions.

Also, as mentioned above don’t bother signing up for aeroplan

Looking at 7 hours at Toronto - VA Plat - still looks like there's lounge access on the virgin page here, but not on the Air Canada page here.

It's too long a stop to be caught - has anyone reached out to VA or Air Canada about this?

 

[bcworld]

Looking at 7 hours at Toronto - VA Plat - still looks like there's lounge access on the virgin page here, but not on the Air Canada page here.

It's too long a stop to be caught - has anyone reached out to VA or Air Canada about this?

The information seems pretty clear...no need to contact anyone. It's pretty standard that there is no mention of adhoc partners like Virgin Australia on lounge access arrangements rules...generally you'll only see details re the operating airlines and the major alliance they are part of.

 

[michaele]

Looking at 7 hours at Toronto - VA Plat - still looks like there's lounge access on the virgin page here, but not on the Air Canada page here.

It's too long a stop to be caught - has anyone reached out to VA or Air Canada about this?

Yes you’ll get lounge.. don’t expect anything above a crowded regional QP.

Shame there’s still no other benefits on the cards. Thought it would be an easy tie up given the other *A partners.. but then again, AC has a track record of providing disappointment and telling you it’s actually world class